The Place To Be

When we talk of leadership and expertise in retail and finance it gets no better than Susan McGalla. She is not only a businesswoman but one of the most experienced business leaders in retail. Susan has served in almost all capacities in the retail industry giving her an unprecedented insight into the sector making her an authority on the same by any right. Born in East Liverpool, Ohio she is now an executive consultant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Susan’s father was a football coach and was brought up with two brothers, she attended Mount Union College for her undergraduate where she graduated with a degree in business and marketing.

McGalla has had an illustrious career over the period she was employed and served at the highest managerial positions. After graduating college she joined Joseph Horne Company where she started as a marketing executive and steadily worked her way up finally making a senior managerial position it’s at this point that she left to advance her career moving to American Eagle Outfitters in January of 1994 where she joined as divisional merchandise buyer women’s clothing by then the company was quite male dominated but this did not deter her. With such an influential position she was able to bring growth to the company and quickly moved up to various other managerial roles before being appointed CMO of the company’s flagship American Eagle brand this led to her appointment to a similar position for the parent company before also becoming president. As president she was responsible for developing brand ideas and growing them this saw her launch aerie and 77kids some of the best performing at the company.

After a long and successful tenure, she left American Eagle Outfitters and its at this time that she ventured into her long time passion of consultancy. She became a private consultant in retail and financial investment and founded P3 Executive Consulting. With the level of experience and expertise in retail, she quickly became a force to reckon with and was soon rendering her consulting services on marketing, branding, talent management, operational cost control and efficiency among others to the top organizations and business leaders in the retail sector. Susan also provides expert insight based upon her experience in the fashion industry.

Apart from consulting Susan also holds various positions in different organizations such as director of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, member of the board of HFF Inc, she sits on the board of Magee-Women’s Hospital and at the Pittsburgh Steelers, she is Vice President of Business Strategy and Creative Development.